Questions about first camera purchase - Pyxis 12K

[Brian Edsall]

I'm in the early stages of my cinematography career, and I'm currently looking to purchase my first cinema camera, something that can carry me through the early stages of my career and into more professional work. For context, I am interested in both documentary and narrative work, and am starting with some short documentaries / narrative shorts, but also want something that can eventually carry me into full length documentary, narrative, and commercial work.

I've been eyeing the BlackMagic PYXIS 12K for some time, and feel pretty confident that the camera will serve me well, but had a couple of questions. First, if you own or regularly use the PYXIS 12K, what are your thoughts? Second and more specifically, I'm leaning towards getting the L mount, but am still a little torn between the L mount vs. the PL mount. From the research I've done, it seems like more folks recommend the L mount for it's flexibility, but would love to hear thoughts. For those who use the L mount and have used a PL mount adapter, have you run into any issues?

Thanks so much for any guidance in advance.

[Tyler Purcell]

The current 12k Pyxis has a lot of issues, it's why I didn't buy it and went with the URSA Cine 12k instead. 

The main thing is that because the camera is in a smaller chassis, there are some issues. 

For me, not having internal ND was a deal killer because as a doc filmmaker, I always need it. 
20ms refresh in full imager mode, was also a deal killer. I do too much moving the camera around. The jello is a real issue. 
The useless side display, meh what were they thinking? 
It has less dynamic range then the Cine as well, so it's clearly using a different post processing system. 

The other thing is that once you build it up for doc work, you're still encroaching on the side of a cine, once you get the viewfinder, monitor, decent battery solution all on there. For me, the shoulder mount Cine, just made more sense. You throw a battery on it and off ya go. 

L mount is nice tho, and AF is coming to both cameras it seems within the next year. 

I do expect the Pyxis to be updated with some sort of new camera. All new body, maybe a new name too. They're blowing out inventory of the 6k bodies, so my guess is, the new Pyxis will be a 12k imager, sampled to 6k for HFR. With a fold out display, internal ND, updated processing which should help with DR. I know they're working on an high dynamic range, high frame rate camera and that's what I would do if I were them. They'll leave the 12k Cine alone for this next cycle and probably just release the Pyxis replacement. 

At this point in time, if you're on other brands, I really like the FX5, it's a really nice camera and can shoot raw. Where it's not BRAW, where it doesn't have that lovely 12k imager, it has excellent DR, excellent refresh, small body, decent HFR rates and so on. IDK... I hate Sony, I personally wouldn't own a single product of theirs, but if you don't have that bias, then I would buy an FX5. 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Yes the FX5 would be much better for doc stuff if the price is ok and not specifically needing 12k. The x-ocn codecs are really good and the camera is much more versatile in low budget production than Pyxis style block camera. And fx5 is really light sensitive which you do need a lot in doc work and low budget.

 

Another possible options for lower price point:

Canon C50 

Panasonic S1iiE if needing mirrorless style camera

Used Canon C70 if 4k top resolution is fine and needing internal nd filters 

Used Komodo 6k if not needing high  framerates

Used or new Komodo-X if needing high framerates 

 

OR you could purchase two cameras which may be the best option for low budget. One for doc, one for narrative